Tennesseans will have the chance to vote on lifting a constitutional ban on lotteries in November and students seem to welcome the change.
“It will definitely save me a drive,” said Holly Hill, a nursing major at ETSU who drives to Bristol often to purchase lottery tickets.
A state lottery would also bring in revenue to the state of Tennessee that might help the state’s budget crisis, but students know that it won’t be the cure for the budget.
” I think it will help solve some budget problems but I don’t think it will fix it,” said Brent Burke, an art major at ETSU.
Buck Winegardener, a criminal justice student, agrees. “Lottery revenue will help but it is not the entire solution.”
Some of the benefits from a state lottery would be for roads and schools. In states like Georgia, lottery revenues fund programs that give full tuition to students who graduate high school with a B average.
” I would participate in the lottery if I knew the money I lost would go to education,” said Kristen Koehler, an education major.
State income tax would also influence the possibility of a lottery in Tennessee.
The lottery would be an alternative to the state income tax, which Gov. Don Sundquist proposed as a solution to budget shortfalls.
“The lottery revenues will be good for schools and it may help lower taxes which will help the state a lot,” Burke said
“I’m all for it if it means the government gets less money out of my paycheck,” Daniel Lewis, a business major said.
Leaders of anti-lottery groups have already begun campaigning against the measure.
They protest the lottery because of problems that might follow such as gambling and gambling addictions.
While most students seem to be nonchalant about the lottery coming to Tennessee not all expect the ban to be lifted.
“I don’t know if it will pass or not but I’m sure it will be close.” Winegardener said.

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